Indiana Election 2011 | Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations

3rd District Representative Mark Souder Resigning

By
Arianna Prothero

Posted May 18, 2010

3rd District Representative Mark Souder is stepping down after admitting to an affair with a staffer.

Photo: Courtesy Photo

3rd District Representative Mark Souder is stepping down after admitting to an affair with a staffer. Souder plans to return to Washington at the end of the week to clean out his office.

3rd District Representative Mark Souder is stepping down after admitting to an affair with a staffer. Even though Souder had just won the Republican re-nomination for his post, Howey Politics Publisher Brian Howey said Souder’s resignation does not come as a complete surprise.

“Souder had expressed considerable angst over the re-election bid that he was involved in, expressed concern about his own mortality, talked about how his father and uncles had died early, and had suggested that this might be his last term,” Howey said. “Obviously, there was a lot more going on with the Congressman than what he was letting on.”

Souder plans to return to Washington at the end of the week to clean out his office. Although there are a number of potential replacements for Souder, Howey said one in particular stands out.

“I would certainly think that State Senator Marlin Stutzman who ran very well—lost by 10% to Dan Coats in the Senate Primary—is somebody who is going to be at the top of most lists,” Howey said.

Howey added Fort Wayne Councilman Mitch Harper and State Representative Matt Bell are also possible candidates. However, Howey said that whoever is selected to fill Souder’s position now is not necessarily a shoe-in for the party’s nominee in the upcoming mid-term elections- especially considering how unpredictable Indiana politics has been this year.